Water softener



Nav 27, 1928. 3 1,692,939 0. w. JOHNSON WATER SOFTENER Filed Oct. 15, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 27, 1928. 7 1,692,939

O. W. JOHNSON WATER SOFTENER Filed Oct. 15, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F 2 W E 2 50 19 M 2f Z6 Patented Nov. 27,1928.

oscA'n w. JOHNSON, or: ROCKFORD/ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T wnanazovn rump con- PORATION, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS:

WATER- SOFTENER.

Applieationifiled October 15, 1926. Serial No. 141,688. 7

This invention relates to water softeners and is principally concerned with improvements in the application in water softeners of the water distributing diaphragm of filter posed by cloth disclosed in patent to Orland Russell Sweeney, No. 1,557,117, issued October 13,

1925. I p l v The principal provide "for greateradaptability of the diaphragm to the requirements of larger-water softeners and enable making whatever minor variations in construction becomedesirable I) in the application of the diaphragm to different sized units. For example, provide, in place of a single piece of filter, cloth supported between or on grids as disclosedin the Sweeney patent, a wall constituting the principal supporting and retaining means for the bed of zeolite material, provided with openings uniformly distributed throughout the cross section of the bed, each equipped with a separate piece of diaphragm material secured in such a way as to permit individual removal and replacement. Accordingly, no limitation within reasonable limits is imthis construction on the-size of the unit in which the same may be used. Furthermore, the construction enables the simple removal and replacement of any separate pieces as compared with the difliculty'in the other construction, as well as the expense thereby incurred, in having to remove and replace the entire diaphragm, when only a part thereof became unfit for further use; p

A. further feature of the present invention worthy ofnote is that the present construction enables the separate pieces to have freedom to'buckle and flutter in the operation a of the softener, which freedom was not per- -mitted where the one-piece diaphragm had to be mounted in a special way because of its size. This materially diminishes the tendency for the diaphragm to become clogged. Obviously, by virtue of the present construction, the clogging of any separate "pieces of diaphragm is easily remedied by the replacement of such pieces and any. defective piece may be likewise replaced.

object of my invention is to The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a vertical section through the lower portion of a water softener tank equipped with a diaphragm of an improved 7 design in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section'showing the diaphragm in plan, i

- Fig. 3 isan enlarged plan view of one of the separate diaphragm sections;

Fig. is a section through Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a section corresponding tp Fig. 1 of a modified or'alternative construction.

Throughout'the views,

the same or similar reference numerals are applied to correspond- I ing parts.

Referring ly, to Figs. 1 1:04, the invention is shown applied to a water'softener tank 10 having a basin-shaped bottom 11 with which a lower pipe cjonection 12 communicates through a lead-in pipe 13 and elbow 14, as described in my Patent 1,628,541, issued May 10, 1927.

for thepresent more particular-- A bed of zeolite or other base-exchange water 4 I softening material is arranged to'be supported within the tank 10 on the diaphragm, indicated generally by the reference numeral 15. y The latter, according'to my invention, is provided of a special construction embodying, in effect, anetwork or patchwor pieces encountered in practice with a diaphragm composed merely of a single piece of filter cloth or equivalent material supported on or between and reinforced by grids, as disclosed in the Sweeney patent above referred to. As described in said patent, the filter cloth diaphragm replaces a bed of sand or gravel by serving distributing the bed of zeolite material supported thereon and also serving to filter the waten and to retain :the zeolite material with the water flowing in either direction. This erably made from Monel metal so as to be non-corrosive and is so finely fabricated that it appears opaque although the interstices between the woven strands permit the filter cloth is pref-J the purposeof uniformly flow of water through the I free passage of water therethrough. In addition to being closely woven, the cloth is rolled so as to have the strands flattened and congested and thereby further to reduce the size and shape of the interstices. Due to its con-' struction, the cloth not only filters suspended matter from the water passing therethrough but distributes the water uniformly there across and, of course, retains the zeolite material. Needless to state, this material is rather costly and it, therefore, becomes a matter of considerable expense if the entire diaphragm has to be replaced. Prior to my present invention, a defect of any conse-' quence, even if onlyin a singlespot on the diaphragm, made it necessary toremove and replace the entire diaphragm at great trouble f and'expense. Furthermore, especially in the case of larger sized tanks, where the span offilter cloth was comparatively great,spe-

cially designed grids had to be provided to support or properly reenforce the diaphragm.

These grids, besides forming a rather appreciable obstruction, to the flow-'- of water, frequently resulted in electrolytic act-ion with "the diaphragm and consequent disintegration. There was also some evidences of clogging, especially where the diaphragm was held taut and had no freedom toe-buckle or Weave back and forth with the sudden surges of water flow therethrough or the reversals of flow. In accordance with my invention, as will presently appear, it is possible to support and secure the individual .piecesof filter cloth 16 in such a way that a certainamount of buckling or fluttering will occur. This greatly reduces the tendency for the filter cloth to clog, as any lodged particles will tend to work out. Furthermore, if any particular' piece should prove to be unfit for fur-,

ther use after atime, it is a simple matter to replace the same and the same 'is true if any piece shows evidences of being defective. It

' ed therein substantially uniformly distr1b-- is obviously-a matter of hardly any consequence in expense to replace individual.

pieces as compared with replacement of an entire diaphragm-of large dlIIlGllSlOIlS.

The diaphragm 15 comprises a plate 17 sup- 1 ported in any suitablemanner above the bot-- tom 11 so as to serveas a-supporting and retainin wall for the zeolite material. The plate f7 hasa plurality of openings 18 providuted throughout the cross-section of the bed of zeolite material. The pieces offilter cloth 16 span the openings 18 and are suitably clamped in position by arings 19 and bolts 20. The marginal edges of the filter cloth pieces 16 have rings of gasket material 21' thereon so as toinsure against leakage between the plate 17 and the filter cloth pieces 16. I prefer to provide the gaskets 21 of vulcanized rubber sothat the filter cloth pieces are each insulted with respect to the plate 17 and there is no possibility of electrolytic action therebetween. The gaskets; while serving to hold the filter cloth pieces relatively securely, nevertheless permit of a buckling or flutteringof the'filter cloth with the surges of v r I than is absolutely necessary and still the aggregate exposed area of filter cloth is rel-,

atively large in proportion to the entire area of the plate 17 The operatiomof the present diaphragm is substantially the same as that secured with a single piece diaphragm as shown in the- Sweeney patent, that is, as regards the distribution of "the water flow uniformly throughoutthe cross section of the bed and I the filtering of the water beforeits passage upwardly through the zeolite material? In the present case, however, the separate pieces- 16 are free to. buckle upwardly and to flutter somewhat in the normal operation of the softener when the flowis upward. When the softener is regenerated and the flow is down- ,Ward, the collected matter on the under side of the filter cloth pieces is washed off and any particles which may have become lodged in theintersticesof the cloth will tend to become dislodged especially when, thecloth buckles I downwardly'under the combined pressure of the zeolite -material and the downwardly flowing brine. With the present' construction there is obviously no limitation as to sizeof units-in which the diaphragm may be in stalled. The plate v17 is simply designed to t fit a stated sized tank and equipped with the proper number of openings 18. The filter clothpieces 16' are then provided having a gauge coarser or finer, depending on the operating re uirements of the unit, that is, the gauge may ecome coarser in larger sizedunits in propprtion to the number of openings covered if the pressure is assumed to be the same for a larger or smaller sized unit. I

have fdundthat-it is desirable to rovide radial slots 26 in the underside of t e rings 19 for the purpose of jetting water in the case of'upward flow operation outwardly for con tact with the zeolite material between the pieces of diaphragm material. Infother" words,the provision avoids the-likelihood of dead spaces which the incoming water would not traverse and tends toward a definite uniform distribution-of water flow through the bed of zeolite material. The provision is, furthermore, of advantage after regeneration during the flushing operation. During regeneration, when the flow is downward, there is obviously a tendency for the material to pack over the separate pieces of vdiaphragm mais properly agitated. The slots 26,. on the other hand, arenot sufliciently wide to seriously affect the holding of the diaphragm pieces by their gaskets. The inspection plate, shown at 22 in Fig. 1, is provided to cover the man hole 23 which affords easy access to Hi the diaphragm whenever an inspection and repair of the water softener is to be made.

In Fig. 5, I have illustrated a slightly modi- ,fied construction in which the filter cloth piece 16 is clamped in position by the ring 20 19 .over a gasket ring 24, the ring 19- being provided with an annular groove so that the filter cloth is crimped and thus positively held at its marginal edges. Obviously, the filter'clothpieces may be secured in this way 25 or in a variety of other ways with equal fa cility permitting .of the individual removal andreplacement of the pieces.

I claim:

1. In a water softener having a bed of baseexchange material, a perforated supporting.

and retaining wall for said material arranged to serve as a frame-work onto which may be fastened a network'or patchwork of pieces of diaphragm. material, a plurality of pieces of- 36 diaphragmmaterial for'said networkv or patchwork, and individual means for each piece of diaphragm material for securing the v same to said wall in such a way as to permit its separate removal and replacement while 40 permitting each piece to-buckle individually under the action of the water flowing therethrough, each of said pieces of diaphragm material being provided of substantially circular form with rings of gasket material on its marginal edges on opposed faces, and

the means for securing the same in place com 'risin a rin arran ed to be su er sed on the piece of diaphragm material and to be fastened to the supporting and retaining wall whereby to clamp the piece of diaphragm material in place between material.

2. In a water softener having a bed of baseexchange material, a perforated supporting and retaining wall for said material arranged to serve as a-framework onto which? may bev fastened a network or patchwork of pieces of diaphragm material, a plurality of pieces of diaphragm material for said network 'or 00 patchwork; and individual means for each piece of diaphragm material for securing the same tosaid wall in's uch a way as to permit its separate removal and replacementwhile permitting each piece to buckle individually under the action of the water flowing thereits rings of gasket through, each of said pieces of diaphragm material being provided of substantially circular form, and the means for securing the same in place comprising aring suitably fastened to the supporting and retaining wall to clamp the diaphragm material in place, said ring .havingradial openings provided therein substantially as and for the purpose described. Y

4 3. In a water softener having a bed of base-exchange material, a perforated supporting and retaining wallfor said material arranged to serve as a framework onto which may be fastened a network or patchwork of pieces of .diaphragm'material, a plurality of pieces of diaphragm material for said network or patchwork, and individual means for each piece of diaphragm material for securingthe same to said wall in such a way as to permit its separate removal and replacement while permitting each piece to buckle individually under the action of the-water flowing therethrough, each of said pieces of diaphragm material being provided of sub stantially circular form with rings of gasket material on its marginal edges on opposed faces, and the means for securing the same superposed on the piece of diaphragm material and to be fastened to the supporting and retaining wall whereby to clamp the and retaining wall for said material arrangedv to serve as a framework onto which maybe fastened a network or patchwor: of pieces 'in place comprising a ring arranged to be i of diapragm material, a plurality of pieces of diaphragm material for: said network or patchwork, a'ndindividua'l'means for each piece of diaphragm material for securing the'same .to said with in such a way as to permit its separate-removal and replacement while permitting each piece to buckle incllividually under the action of the water flowing therethrough, each of said pieces of diaphragm naterial being provided of substantially circular form and of substantially larger diameter than the openings in the.

supporting and retaining wall, and also hav-' ing rings of gasket material on its marginal edges, the inside diameterof which is likewise substantially larger than thesopening in said wall, the gasket material serving to space the diaphragm material from said wall and the openingtherein, and the said means for securing the latter in place comprising a ring arranged to be superposed thereon and to be fastened to the supporting and retaining wall so as to clamp the diaphragm material.

' in place between its rings ofgas'ket material.

' 5. In a water softener having a bed of water softening material, asupportingand/ or retaining wall having one or more openings 5 therein, one or more pieces of diaphragm material for said openings, each preferably of circular form with rings of gasket material on its marginal edges on opposed faces, andone or more ring-shapedelements for securing said pieces to the wall covering the openings fastened to. the wall in such a way that;

ithe diaphragm material is clamped in place between its rings of gasket material,

(OSCAR WrJOHNSlON.

In witness of theforegoing I affix my sig-- nature. 

